From Hisar’s Nahar Colony, where Yashpal Sharma became a part of the Ram Lila stage during Dussehra celebrations, to acting for the big screen in 1992 Hindi film Zindagi Ek Juaa, the actor’s journey has been inspiring. As Hisar’s ‘Bittu’ came to Chandigarh to play the lead actor in theatre stalwart Nadira Zaheer Babbar’s play, he talked about his foray into films and priortising work.
After attaining education in theatre from the department of Indian theatre at Panjab University, Chandigarh, Yashpal studied at the illustrious National School of Drama, New Delhi, where he was trained under thespian Nadira Zaheer Babbar.
With hard work and sharp theatre skills, Yashpal went on to bag Hindi films of a wide variety; spotted in Oscar nominated film Lagaan and more recently, Gangs of Wasseypur. Saying his devotion to theatre and experience in the field had been instrumental in ensuring roles for him in films, Yashpal said, “That is why theatre is my first love and I accord priority to my drama shows before allotting dates to film shootings. I don’t take stress and love to work on my own terms.”
Complimenting his mentor in theatre, he said that Nadira had something substantial to offer in her works to both an intellectual and a rickshaw puller.
{{/usCountry}}Complimenting his mentor in theatre, he said that Nadira had something substantial to offer in her works to both an intellectual and a rickshaw puller.
{{/usCountry}}On the progress of theatre in his home state, Haryana, Yashpal shared with pride that the state’s youth were now leading all the way in games, sports and Bollywood. “Bollywood icons such as Sanjay Dutt, Subhash Ghai, JP Kaushik, Om Puri and above all, Mallika Shehrawat, all hail from Haryana,” he smiled.